In Dr. Franklin’s Island, Dr. Franklin was a scientist who had lost his credibility and backing in the science community because of unethical experimentation. [I could use the image below to explain the ways in which Dr. Franklin did not have scientific integrity and use specific examples from the novel.] Source:Bolton, Patricia A. “Chapter 16: Scientific Ethics”. Taken 3/5/08 from http://www.wren-network.net/resources/benchmark/16-ScientificEthics.pdf
Another Example “Transgenic technology has the potential of medical therapy, but it raises questions about these issues: ·creation of new life forms and crossing species boundaries ·long-term effects on human health and the environment ·blending of nonhuman animal and human DNA unintended personal, social, and cultural consequences”(Glenn, Linda MacDonald. "Ethical Issues in Genetic Engineering and Transgenics". ActionBioScience.org. Taken 3/5/08 from http://www.actionbioscience.org/biotech/glenn.html).)
Dr. Franklin is attempting to work with transgenics to develop a “vacation” experience for people. He works to blend human DNA with avian and fish DNA in this novel and we see evidence of all of the points raised in the ActionBioScience.org article by Linda MacDonald Glenn. Dr. Franklin is working to create new life forms, but does not have control on how they emerge [insert pg. or chapter from novel here]. He does not know the long term effects his experiments have on the humans or the environment around them as seen in the scene where he explains the experiment to Semi and Miranda [insert chapter number here]. He does complete a lot of tests and keep data on the effects of his experiment on their human health, both physically and mentally through his little “tests”, including the time when he let them escape to test their determination (p.88).
The second half of the novel highlights all of the unforeseen consequences of Dr. Franklin’s actions: the relationships between Miranda, Semi and Arnie, the degree of “human-ness” that remained in those who had been altered and the elements of being human. [Insert outside source for description of what it means to be human] Dr. Franklin underestimated the persistence of his human subjects by, as Semi says, "We're still human. The next thing we try might work" (p.112).
After Semi, Miranda and Arnie change back to their “human” forms, they maintain some aspect of their animal-self also. Semi has to explain the gills on her neck and her corrected vision when she returned to her real life which kept her from ever feeling as is she fit back in society (p.243). A real scientist would have to consider this possibility before doing these experiments in order to be considered having integrity [I again could use the image in the example above], which is one of the things that keeps them from performing these experiments on people now, though transgenics (the transfer of DNA) is being researched currently [insert source].
In Dr. Franklin’s Island, Dr. Franklin was a scientist who had lost his credibility and backing in the science community because of unethical experimentation. [I could use the image below to explain the ways in which Dr. Franklin did not have scientific integrity and use specific examples from the novel.]
Source: Bolton, Patricia A. “Chapter 16: Scientific Ethics”. Taken 3/5/08 from http://www.wren-network.net/resources/benchmark/16-ScientificEthics.pdf
Another Example
“Transgenic technology has the potential of medical therapy, but it raises questions about these issues:
· creation of new life forms and crossing species boundaries
· long-term effects on human health and the environment
· blending of nonhuman animal and human DNA
unintended personal, social, and cultural consequences” (Glenn, Linda MacDonald. "Ethical Issues in Genetic Engineering and Transgenics". ActionBioScience.org. Taken 3/5/08 from http://www.actionbioscience.org/biotech/glenn.html).)
Dr. Franklin is attempting to work with transgenics to develop a “vacation” experience for people. He works to blend human DNA with avian and fish DNA in this novel and we see evidence of all of the points raised in the ActionBioScience.org article by Linda MacDonald Glenn. Dr. Franklin is working to create new life forms, but does not have control on how they emerge [insert pg. or chapter from novel here]. He does not know the long term effects his experiments have on the humans or the environment around them as seen in the scene where he explains the experiment to Semi and Miranda [insert chapter number here]. He does complete a lot of tests and keep data on the effects of his experiment on their human health, both physically and mentally through his little “tests”, including the time when he let them escape to test their determination (p.88).
The second half of the novel highlights all of the unforeseen consequences of Dr. Franklin’s actions: the relationships between Miranda, Semi and Arnie, the degree of “human-ness” that remained in those who had been altered and the elements of being human. [Insert outside source for description of what it means to be human] Dr. Franklin underestimated the persistence of his human subjects by, as Semi says, "We're still human. The next thing we try might work" (p.112).
After Semi, Miranda and Arnie change back to their “human” forms, they maintain some aspect of their animal-self also. Semi has to explain the gills on her neck and her corrected vision when she returned to her real life which kept her from ever feeling as is she fit back in society (p.243). A real scientist would have to consider this possibility before doing these experiments in order to be considered having integrity [I again could use the image in the example above], which is one of the things that keeps them from performing these experiments on people now, though transgenics (the transfer of DNA) is being researched currently [insert source].
My Sources (Bibliography)
Bolton, Patricia A. “Chapter 16: Scientific Ethics”. Taken 3/5/08 from http://www.wren-network.net/resources/benchmark/16-ScientificEthics.pdf
Glenn, Linda MacDonald. "Ethical Issues in Genetic Engineering and Transgenics". ActionBioScience.org. Taken 3/5/08 from http://www.actionbioscience.org/biotech/glenn.html).
Halam, Ann. Dr. Franklin's Island. New York: Random House, Inc., 2003.